Millions of people poured into Washington, DC yesterday for the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Of course, we're not telling you anything that you don't already know -- the nation as a whole collectively paused yesterday to soak in the historic moment.

And what a beautiful sight it was here in Washington... people more excited about democracy than at any point in recent history. They're fired up and ready to take action. Ready to get involved and make a difference.

It's great, isn't it? And since that's what we're all about here on Keep Our Food Safe -- advocacy -- we're pretty excited too. We hope you'll stay with us in the months ahead as we continue to champion a safe, healthy and wholesome food supply.

Our latest 'Chew on This' podcast deals with these very issues: advocacy to keep our food safe. What can I do to get the government to care more about food safety? How can I effectively communicate with my elected leaders? What’s the best way to take action? In "Taking Action in Our Democracy," (Part Two) we'll attempt to answer these questions with the help of our expert guest, former US Senator and veterinarian Wayne Allard.

During his two terms in the US Senate, Dr. Allard learned first-hand how advocacy can affect legislation, including food safety. In Part Two of this special two-part podcast, Senator Allard joins us to discuss advocacy tactics and shed light what Congress can do to keep our food safe.

Listen to Part Two of "Taking Action in Our Democracy" now.

If you missed Part One, go here.

We’re less than two weeks from the inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States, and much of America is busy looking for clues and indicators of what our next four years will be like. Crystal balls and political pundits aside, The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) has put together a terrific round-up of what one profession critical to food safety, veterinarians, can expect in Obama’s America.

So, put your Magic 8 Ball back in the attic and read the following JAVMA News article for a taste of what’s to come.

What can the veterinary profession expect in Obama's America?

Barack Obama's election to the presidency has implications not just for the United States and the world but, in less dramatic ways, the power and influence of the Obama White House will also be felt by the veterinary profession.

Obama's cabinet appointments, for example, especially to the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, have implications for regulations concerning food safety and animal welfare. Moreover, Democrats have strengthened their majorities in Congress, where legislation banning horse slaughter and limiting antimicrobial drug use in food animals could gain momentum.

Dr. Mark Lutschaunig, director of the AVMA Governmental Relations Division in Washington, D.C., spoke to JAVMA News about the political climate in the nation's capital and what he thinks the AVMA can expect in the coming years.

And we're back. Happy New Year! Are you ready to take action in our democracy to keep our food safe?

If you answered "yes," then you're still in the right place. Throughout 2009, we'll keep you informed -- as always -- of the latest news and issues surrounding food safety, and we'll let you know you know the best ways you can take action.

In fact, we've prepared a special two-part "Chew on This" podcast series on how to get involved in your government. As the 111th US Congress is sworn in and returns to work in the Senate and House of Represenatives, who better to give us unique insight on effective democratic participation than outgoing US Senator Wayne Allard? Lucky for us, Senator Allard gave up his time to participate in these special podcasts.

Veterinarian Wayne Allard represented Colorado in the US Senate for the last 12 years and has dealt with many pressing issues impacting food safety. In Part One , Senator Allard, discusses how being a veterinarian prepared him for his role as a US Senator and the importance of being involved in legislative process. Part Two is coming up in just a couple of weeks, so make sure you listen in for more specifics on political action and food safety.

Listen to the podcast now.